Scott F

Go to tinypic.com and it will resize the picture and give you a link to copy paste into your post.

LaSalle is a cooling lake and the water temp now is pretty high. I usually only fish it in the spring but there are largemouth and smallmouth there. Heideke isn't used as a cooling lake anymore so the water temps are more normal for this time of year. Besides bass, both lakes have hybrid stripers, walleye, catfish, muskies and white bass. You never really know what you might catch. Both lakes have good boat ramps. There is a low bridge that divides the North and south sides of Heideke. If the water is high, many boats can't get under.

Try Heideke or LaSalle. You are probably closer to LaSalle, just south of Seneca. Make sure the winds are not too high. Both lakes can be dangerous during high winds.

Spinner - Mepps #4 PLAIN!! I know everybody uses the models with the squirrel tails, but for 2 bucks less the plain models are a much better value and trust me, they will catch just as many fish. Plus, if you get weeds on them, they plain ones are easier to clean off.

A mount is a nice way to remember a good fish caught but this is extra special because your wife made it for you. I can understand why you shared it with us.

A friend of mine bought a Lowe a couple of years ago and although the boat has been OK, he also had problems with the trailer. The tires did not last through the first season, the guide-ons also broke off, the deck plates on the fenders fell off and the winch did not hold up.

If you didn't think the Jackson was stable enough, maybe kayaks are not for you. For maximum stability, look into a personal pontoon like the Outcast pontoons. Unless you are going through class 3 rapids sideways, you cannot flip a pontoon.

Don't they give a guy sitting in the middle seat something to hold on to while the driver is ripping along at high speed?

The lever opens the bail.

In my childhood and to this day, the Beatles were and still are my favorite group.

I'd probably still have a cable steer if someone could design a foot pedal that wasn't so tall. My old Motor Guide from the late 80's was pretty good but when boat makers have to cut a hole in the deck to accommodate those newer pedals, there is a problem. I do like my Terrova however. The low profile pedal and the spot lock are great.

Almost all digital cameras shoot HD video these days which makes all of them a lot more versatile than the GoPro and cheaper. Those GoPro ultra wide shots are so annoying for anything other than tight shots, I can't even watch a video shot on a GoPro.

How come they don't scream danger when they see the hook dangling from the bait?

I tie everything direct. I refuse to make fishing more complicated than it has to be.

Go to Quantum's online parts department and you can order it there. http://www.quantumfishing.com/CustomerService/ReplacementParts.aspx?ProductID=4099

The main reason I almost never fish a Senko wacky style is because you lose the jerbait/walk the dog action the unweighted, T-rigged, Senko is so good at. The fact that it sinks, makes it more appealing to me than a Slug-go or a fluke.

You may have just snagged a turtle in the shell or leg

I wear chest high breathables and even in 90 degree weather, I wasn't uncomfortable. Of course, the water you are standing in helps cool you off. Waders not only keep you dry, they also protect you from bacteria in the water where you are standing, keep ticks off of you, and protect you from poison ivy.

You need to tell that joke with an Irish accent to make it work, "toofarty"

Lakes no. Rivers, yes.

With a couple of exceptions, I seldom use the most expensive baits and tackle out there and I catch my share of bass. Putting the bait in the right spot is the most important thing. A $30 bait where there are no fish won't catch a thing. Fish what you can afford.

My favorite team is The Chicago Bears. My second favorite team is any team playing the Green Bay Packers.

Last summer, I was fishing a river out of my personal pontoon. A smallish pike about 27-28 inches hit my topwater popper. I reeled him all the way back to me between the pontoons, right at my feet, when he swung his head and bit through my braided line. He sat in the water with my popper still in his mouth not realizing he was free just long enough for me to grab him by the back of his head before he could swim off. I got my bait back. I've had pike grab my walleyes, pike grab my other pike, muskies grab my smallmouth and lake trout grab my arctic graying, but I've never had a pike grab a bass.

Don't rule out Cabela's waders. Cabela's house brand clothing, including waders, are guaranteed for life. If you buy a pair and they start leaking after a couple of years, take them back and get a full refund (if you keep the receipt) or store credit if you don't have the receipt. You could also exchange the leaking pair for a larger size if you need it. No matter what brand of waders you buy, ALWAYS get a size bigger than you need. Most leaks come from stressing the seams. A generous size reduces the amount of stress that comes from climbing over rocks and bushwacking down to the river. Larger sizes also let you layer clothes underneath if the weather gets cold. One more thing to remember. There are only 2 kinds of waders. Those that leak, and those that are going to leak. No waders, regardless of price, are bullet proof. The companies that stand behind their waders like Cabela's, Orvis, Simms and a few others are the only companies that I will buy waders from.

What do you get when you spend more money? Do less expensive PFD's not keep your head out of the water?